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Rumours of Volcano Shutting Down

But Dr. Rowley Warns 'Just Not Yet'

by Bennette Roach

Despite all the rumours, which may really be very strong and serious desires, that are circulating far and wide, the final chapters on the ravages of the volcano may not be ready for recording.

Dr. Keith Rowley, outgoing chief scientist, says that if the volcano should become as active as before and move toward the area where it can affect Plymouth, there may be nothing left to see in Plymouth.

This was among the thoughts discussed with Dr. Rowley as we flew by helicopter over and around the Soufriere Hills volcano and over the ravaged south of the island earlier this week.

It was a perfect day for the occasion and it was my first direct viewing of the area since that painful helicopter flight, only hours after the southern disaster on Boxing Day last year.

On Boxing Day there was so much ash still floating over the disaster area that we were unable to see the extent of the damage or to say even whether there might have been a house or two still standing. My worst fears at the time were that the destruction was absolute and that fact is so true that the moon surface as we see from pictures provided by NASA does not seem as bare as that in St. Patrick’s or the area we call the south.

The weather was perfect for the surveillance and our pilot Alex was able to fly very low without disturbing the ashy surface. It had rained the night before and now the sun was shining beautifully. We were even able to see very briefly the spine at the top of the dome as we flew around it.

Looking carefully, the most that could be seen in terms of buildings were the floor slabs of the police station, the Anglican Church nearby and the Catholic Church as well. It takes some time to orient oneself, but because the surface is not covered with material like that on the east side of the volcano, the roads are distinguishable and provide the opportunity to figure out locations.

The rocky shorelines are no more; now there are some nice looking beaches all along the coastline down to O’Garros. Of course, the new delta has added some acreage to the island to used in future years.

As we flew by what used to be known as the Galway’s Wall, Dr. Rowley pointed out that dusty and light material which is part of the dome and runs down its side. He pointed out where the Soufriere has sent its steam through the material, which continues to slide over it and further down the side of the new landscape, which now looks nothing like it had prior to December of 1996.

The scene that now presents itself at Galways mountain leaves no doubt about the fire that must have roared down with hurricane force winds over St. Patrick’s, so fiery and fierce that it melted all in its path, tearing and powering it away to where there was no more land to scrape with it. The surface is bare of any form of life. I was able to pick out, just over the sea, the remains of the wall over the location of an old dumpsite at the bottom of Toby Hill. The fiery blast had to fall over a cliff before it could get to this wall that stood at the top of another cliff which formed what we used to call ‘Jumbie Hole’, which protruded over the sea at coast level.

Most surprising was the destruction that took place in Kinsale where, although there are houses still standing, they are mostly destroyed in way or the other. The destruction stretches towards Plymouth as far as the ghaut that runs by Richard Samuel. Buildings in Brodericks and Trials are very badly damaged with roofs torn off or burnt; some houses have lost some sides and generally the destruction is much more than can be imagined.

Following is the full text of an interview between myself and Dr. Rowley on Friday, March 27, 1998.

Roach: What about the rumors that the volcano has gone to sleep and it’s solidifying? What is happening up there? We haven’t seen huge ash clouds coming this way. It’s been quiet.

Rowley: All I can say, you must remember that all those reports have been reports on our observations. Now if the observations are not generating new and voluminous information, then the reports will be brief. I can understand what’s been happening. People have not been hearing a lot. We’ve been telling them very candidly and honestly that we have not been observing a lot of changes, and I think they are coming to their own conclusion that it may be that things are returning to normal. That is a reasonable assumption.

Roach: Is that an assumption, or a hope.

Rowley: Well there’s always been the hope, but I’m saying that from the point of view of the scientific standpoint of what the volcano can and may do, while we acknowledge that people’s expectation and hope would be leading in that direction, we have been cautioning not to read too much into the period of repose that we are experiencing now, for two reasons: One as we have seen before, that periods of repose have been broken by periods of violent activity. Also it is normal to have these breaks in between and it may very well be that it is taking longer to recharge and this period of repose can end in renewal of activity. That’s a very distinct possibility.

Roach: What do you refer to as activity?

Rowley: Activity meaning eruptions, where there’s like pyroclastic flows and explosions and ash and so on. Right now the volcano is still active but it’s active in a very quiet way, there’s no physical manifestation in terms of loss of material, pyroclastic flows, ash falls, and so on. So scientifically we still see it as active and still dangerous. But then it could go to a situation where it is violently active, where you are having explosions, or pyroclastic flows, or surges, things like that.

We are saying that this period of time, while we are not having those manifestations, it is likely that those things could restart, so therefore we should not read too much into the present period of quiet. That’s a normal feature in this kind of eruption, where there can be extended periods when nothing happens, including no dome growth, very little earthquakes and so on. But then that could suddenly turn around and we’d go back to a situation where the dome begins to grow again and you start getting earthquakes.

Roach: That was going to be my next question, in a sense of what happens to the dome; a lot of the rockfalls, the ash clouds you mentioned that are reactions from the growth of the dome. So is it that there is no dome growth right now?

Rowley: Dome growth right now is pretty close to minimal. It is very minimal and there are no significant changes taking place on the dome. But as I said, this (eclipse?) is a normal kind of a situation in dome-building and dome-type eruptions, where the dome itself can actually stop growing for a while, for weeks and months, and then the activity can resume.

Roach: The dome growth usually occurs when there is stuff pushing up to the surface, and this pushing up to the surface is because of the activity underneath. Is that at a low level?

Rowley: Very, very low. But you see, what it could mean, if you look at it in mathematical terms, we had a big eruption in December, Boxing Day, and a lot of material was lost from the dome. I’m not saying this is what is happening, I’m saying MAYBE that it is being recharged at a slow rate and therefore it is taking longer to reach a stage of the next eruption.

Roach: How long would it have to continue like this before we could say well it looks like at least beginning to think that it’s going to sleep?

Rowley: There’s no set time. It all depends on what we are observing at the point in time. For example, while we were seeing very, very little activity the last three weeks, for one day during that period we did have a spurt of hybrid earthquakes and one fair-size earthquake which was equivalent to the ones we were getting all of last year. So what that tells us is that even though we are in a very, very quiet period, that the system itself has not been completely shut off. So that call about when it has ended or when it is in an ending phase has to be made at that time based on what you are seeing or not seeing. There is no set time frame, like say that after 21 days that you can say that it is actually ending.

Roach: Prior to the opening of events on July 18, were these earthquakes common to the area? When you would have said, okay it’s likely to be receding, are we likely to continue to have these earthquakes?

Rowley: Not really, because if we are having such earthquake patterns then we would still be concerned that the activity is still very much with us. It is a decline of that earthquake activity for a considerable period which would indicate to us that the system has shut off. Because under normal circumstances during dormancy you do not get very many earthquakes at the volcanic center. You can get the odd one now and then but when you start getting many tens of earthquakes per day, or that kind of thing; we call that an earthquake swarm, and we call that potential activity that should warrant our attention. So we shall have to go back to a situation where earthquakes are pretty much very infrequent for us to be satisfied that the system has been shut off.

Needed Houses Delayed by Lack of Unskilled Labour and Unfamiliar Types of Buildings

by B. Roach

Houses at Lookout nearing completion

The housing program being organised and developed by the contracting firm of Brown & Root Ltd. has been experiencing problems, thus causing serious delays in satisfying the most severe and urgent needs of the island.

Last week the Hon. Chief Minister said that he has been in dialogue with the local contractors and builders, some of whom have been part of the source of the problems in their inability to complete their contracts on time or at all.

Mr. Leo Bedford, manager of Brown & Root for the project, said this week, "We had a problem that the contractors were finding that they couldn’t finish the job for the contracted price.

"Essentially the fast-track nature of the job meant that the guys didn’t get the time they felt they needed to price the job accurately. They took it on at the price that we were offering in the expectation to finish it, but it was a gamble that didn’t pay off for them."

Mr. Bedford said that the builders accepted their price offer at the beginning, but obviously ran into problems on the way, creating the situation they now faced. But his next in command, Mr. Alan Field, explained the present problem in more detail when he said:

"The problem we are experiencing right now is still the local tradesmen, the plumbers, the electricians, the painters, finishing the floor tiling of 50 houses."

He briefly gave the example that there are only four or five different plumbers but they are spread across all the contractors, so instead of each contractor having his own plumber full time, the plumbers and electricians move from one to the other and "we don’t finish the houses as we should do."

Mr. Bedford told The Reporter that it was not a matter of the contractors not being able to meet the required specifications of the buildings. "I think that they’re not necessarily related. The contract called for them to build houses, and clearly they are able to build houses," he said.

He continued, however, "Perhaps there was an issue that for certain people, the efficiency of their building, meant that it cost them more than we had anticipated doing so. Certainly, yes there were let’s say inefficiencies. We expected greater efficiencies than we actually achieved, is a fairer way of putting it."

He qualified the inefficiencies saying: "I think in some cases the volume of work was the problem. It’s not so much that they can’t do one job at a time, but the speed and the volume of work that we required was too much."

So what does Mr. Bedford see for the future as they have at least another 150 houses to produce under contract to the British Government? "The task is to learn the lessons and make sure we apply them," he said. "What we have to do is put together a specification that is buildable, that gives particular cognizance to making things easy to build."

But as to whether this will compromise their position, he responded: "No, actually it will enhance our position, I think, because what we’d like to do is introduce more formalized techniques and different kinds of products, such as moving from internal four-inch block work to stud walls, which are something that people don’t tend to build here, but they are a very efficient form of building."

When questioned about the durability of this new type of structure, Mr. Bedford said, not only that it was durable but also, "there’s no problem with stud work at all so long as it’s done properly," and as far as you can go it is the type of structure you would find today, even in those territories where hurricane and earthquake are factors. He guaranteed this position as he said: " Sure, because the external walls, which would keep in block work, are what matters when it comes to the hurricane."

We raised the query as to whether the new type of construction would pose any problems for the contractors/builders, but Mr. Bedford had the matter in hand. "We have a working group at the moment which comprises ourselves, the Aid Management Office, Government of Montserrat, the Ministry responsible for housing, the government architect, the Physical Planning Unit, and the contractors themselves, who are working together to insure that what we are proposing is not beyond them. It is both appropriate and possible. The expression we like to use is what is the art of the possible, and that is what this working group is out to achieve."

Mr. Bedford advised that of the next 150 houses, 100 will be a system-build, done through international tender, which doesn’t preclude the use of local resources and local contractors; the other 50 houses, or up to 50 houses, have been set aside as local build. "We will use traditional, local techniques and local contractors to build those houses, with the proviso that we’re looking to introduce more buildable buildings with more practical materials," he explained.

But how do they plan to deal with the difficulty in completing the current set of houses?

Mr. Field said Montserratians are coming back from Antigua and some experienced tilers have been brought in from Dominica.

It is not really Brown & Root’s problem to find the necessary labour, but they assist in the effort, so Mr. Field said: "That is a bit of a chicken and egg race. In order to get houses built, we need workers. There’s not enough labor on island to build the houses Therefore we have to bring in additional labor, not only Brown & Root bring in additional labor but the contractors themselves have brought in Montserratians or other people they know from Antigua or different islands."

He said also that a lot of the foreign labor has been housed by some of the contractors themselves. "We have made available space for contractors to house migrant workers."

Mr. Field, who is on the ground with the contractors and the builders and laborers when speaking about the way forward, felt that the current problem is under control but sees that "there is going to be a whole influx of more migrant workers," and that some accommodation will have to be found for them.

He added: "We’re down to get these workers to house themselves, build themselves, or for us to put up some shelter-type accommodation that we can put these people into while they’re here building. Then those shelter-type accommodations or whatever it is we house them in (will be left) behind to leave to Montserrat to use themselves, either to convert into shops or community centers, or for additional housing."

The Evergreen Network has been aiding and abetting Montserratians at home and abroad, ‘ex-pats’ and strangers to Montserrat to vent their sentiments on the status of Montserrat and any other related or unrelated issues. Many verbose contributors have expressed their popular and unpopular views and have received congratulatory responses or an earful. It is exciting to live in these times and read the repartee in the comfort of your own home or office.

This last contentious issue of Pride and Prejudice has been particularly exciting. Wow! Some contributors give new meaning to the term "out of left field".

It is difficult to know just how many participants there are to the Evergreen because there are many a contributor who only read the contributors offerings. But the issue is one that can and does impact the lives of all Montserratians and ex-pats.

It is clear that the concept of global village have escaped the instigator of this latest bru-ha-ha. The world belongs to us all. We have no inalienable right to any corner of the world. Even if with the existence of the US and other European countries’ ridiculously, stringent immigration policies. The US does not belong to the present day Americans. The Indians that they corralled and put on reservations could be said to have a better claim. But it is really interesting to note that these same Americans and Europeans can, and do go anywhere else in the so-called third world and are, for the most part embraced. And there is a reason for this. Third world peoples understand that "this land is my land, this land is your land". If the reclaiming of Montserrat by Soufriere has not showed us that, what will?

What is an ‘ex-pat’? An ex-pat is just another transient visitor who traveled from the first world to the third world. He or she still has to leave all this stuff that was accumulated right here. What is an immigrant? He or she is just another transient visitor who traveled from the third world to the first world. He or she does not normally accumulate much stuff there but he still has to leave his mangy little bundle of stuff right there.

How does one determine if a transient visitor has out stayed his welcome in the global village? Well, perhaps they bring pollution, drugs, violence and other pestilence and vermin along in their overnight cases. Perhaps they bring jobs, money, investment, workers exploitation, graft and political bribery along too. But when is enough too much? With what measuring stick is that measured?

Who really has the answer to the length of a "welcome-stay?" On what basis do we determine who should invest what where? Are there laws governing these things?

If we are loosing control of our land, our economy, our right to invest in our own country, are our political directorate and us not the ones to blame?

It is so fascinating to see the many Montserratians abroad who left Montserrat pre-volcano, who have the blue print for the re-development of Montserrat. Why did they not stay here and implement their investment plans? One can take very seriously any resident Montserratian who wants to participate in the dialogue on the re-development of the land on which he or she lives. The truth and substance or lack of truth and substance of his or her contributions is allowable - not acceptable, just allowable.

But it is difficult to stomach the contentious offerings of Montserratians who voluntarily became global travelers. They have the same rights to investment in their part of the global village as all other global travelers. This right is not earned. This right is not bestowed. It is one that can just be taken. This right is not fashioned by race. It is born out of capability. It is driven by profit. And where the laws of the land does not prohibit a global traveler to invest, such a traveler is free so to do. Any dialogue that attempts to decry the historical concept of investment would seem to have very little merit.

Open Letter to Governor Abbott

May I be permitted to bring to your attention the column on page 7 of the March 13, 1998 "The Montserrat Reporter" newspaper. RE: "Residents who have doubts as to where the fire hydrants are located, can use the opportunity to verify same with the surveyor. In any event, there is no need to worry as the fire department was part of the planning process and stipulated where the hydrants should be located and that they should be installed below ground and protected by a steel cover which is identified by the letters "FH".

There is indeed cause to worry . Hydrants installed below ground are known to contribute too delays in the suppression phase of fire operations. The Hydrant should be installed above ground, properly spaced according to good fire suppression practices. Hydrants properly spaced are one for every 350 feet or fraction thereof. This is arrived at, by calculating for a desired flow and nozzle (Branch Pipe) pressure using the water pressure in the hydrant, the length of the hose stretched, the friction loss in the hose and the height of the working nozzle.

The modern fire trucks are equipped with pumps to adjust the water pressure received from the hydrant at the site of the operating nozzle, nevertheless the basic rules for spacing of hydrants remain the same.

I submitted a report to the Governor, His Excellency DP Taylor, to BDD, to the Montserrat Water Authority and the Government of Montserrat showing the advantages and the disadvantages of installing hydrants above ground. I also requested that the installation of additional hydrants are where received by the Montserrat Water Authority; If these hydrants were not destroyed by the volcano deposits they should be on the island.

A copy of the report outlining the advantages of above ground hydrants when compared to the below ground hydrants was posted in the files of the chief fire officer or may yet be in the files of the agencies listed above. I urgently plea that you will request a copy for your perusal and that you will not allow the installation of hydrants below ground.

Although this was not the case in the fire at Manjack, below ground hydrants will cause similar destruction of homes and or loss of lives due to delay in getting water to the seat of the fire.

Reynold A. White

Montserrat Volcano Party

First Annual Celebration of Life Party

I am planning a first anniversary party of my visit to Montserrat. George Lods, Craig Urie and I visited Montserrat last April 18, 1997, with George Piper as our host and all the friendly Montserratians who made us feel welcomed!

We visited on a Rotary International relief project to assist the SDA "Mongo Hill" Shelter install donated commercial kitchen equipment. Later we raised funds to purchase and forwarded 200 cots (Disco-O-Beds) to the same shelter. The St. Maarten Rotary Club helped us with the transportation from Miami to MNI.

We have been distributing copies of the Caribbean Travel & Life Magazine and Caribbean Travel Organization (CTO) entry form to enter the 45 Caribbean Resort vacations. The CTO/ Montserrat Relief Fund will be the recipient of the funds collected for the suggested $5.00 (US) to enter the contest.

At our party a local Jamaican restaurant owner will prepare some traditional dishes including "Goat water" for my guests.

I just thought that you might like to know that those left on the "Emerald Isle" are not forgotten in Southern New Jersey.

"MONTSERRAT VOLCANO PARTY" (MVP)

First Annual Celebration of Life Party

Friday Night April 17, 1998

7:00 PM till Midnight with Caribbean Food & Beer

Knights of Columbus Hall

N. East Avenue

Vineland, New Jersey USA

Vineland, New Jersey 08362-0887 USA

When Labour Should Speak

There is a time in life when a worker is retired, asked to retire, or just retires on his or her own. There is nothing wrong with the concept of retirement. It is a good thing. New blood regenerates life.

There is a problem, however when the retiree forces the business to accept his or her choice of replacement to ensure that job placements are left open for progeny. It is more frightening yet when the retiree may seem to compound the sin of nepotism with self-perpetuating notions of continuity and the exclusion of competent workers either because competent workers would nix the self-perpetuating notion or seek to safeguard and protect the assets of the business.

A worker can hide behind a variety of veils when narrow self-interest or the common good is at stake. Every worker, be they management or rank and file, has done this at some time. It may not be acceptable but it sure is the norm. But when the worker perpetuates this fraud against the business, to the detriment of the business, the workers, and the lives of the many customers that the business must touch, under the guise of protecting the business from boorish behavior, then Labor must speak out

Labor must speak on behalf of the incompetent worker who is being unjustly promoted to carry out a task he or she is totally incapable of doing. Labor must speak out on behalf of the competent worker who is excluded because he or she can not be cowed or bullied. Labor must speak out on behalf of the rank and file whose jobs will become the more difficult because of incompetent leadership. Labor must even speak on behalf of the customers whose lives will be adversely affected because of incompetent management and leadership.

It is not easy to manage a business that is dependent on the wiles and /or goodwill of disingenuous benefactors. And it is impossible to provide adequate services for customers when management and board members are either incompetent, lack leadership skills or seem to have agendas that are neither in the common good nor protects the interests of workers, the business or customers.

It would seem that the ball is in the court of Labor since the chairman of the board is so obviously hamstrung.

Chief Minister Recounts Antigua Visit

In a press conference last week, Chief Minister David S. Brandt discussed his visit to Antigua last weekend, during which Montserratians who have evacuated from Montserrat because of volcanic activity expressed serious concerns.

The main focus of their concerns is about what would happen after have received the end of their six-month, $10,000 package; whether they will get a further sum or whether there will be cuttings by the British Government.

"They have stated that the cost of living in Antigua is very high," Mr. Brandt said, "especially the cost of rent, and they are finding it hard to exist in Antigua. Some of the old people are having it particularly hard because of lack of finances, and some people who are mentally ill are also suffering great hardship,"

He said the main purpose of his visit was "to tell them about what was going on in Montserrat and most importantly to listen to them."

Mr. Brandt lamented the British Government’s attitude, saying: "The six months is about up and the British Government has not as yet reviewed the situation or indicated what they will do. On all these matters, regarding housing, regarding assistance, my view is that Montserratians, not only in Antigua, but wherever, should be treated the same way as Montserratians who have evacuated from the volcano are treated in England. There should be no discrimination, whether you go to England or you go to any other Caribbean country."

When asked what his government would do in the event the British government reacted negatively to the issue, Mr. Brandt replied, "All we have to do if Britain takes a position which is unreasonable, is to do what we have always done, take our case to the international community.

"We have done it before and we have managed to be successful, and we feel that once we have a reasonable case that we hope that Britain will act reasonably in the circumstances. We do not have the power, we cannot make them do anything."

His Excellency Gov. Anthony Abbott and Douglas Houston, head man at the Aid Management Office here, were also visiting with Brandt and attended the meetings in Antigua.

Nursery School Opens at Brades

The Ministry of Education Wednesday announced the opening of nursery school on the Brades School compound.

The St. Johns based government operated school closed seven days ago to facilitate the moving of supplies and equipment to the new location. This had to be done to ease the cramped condition at the St. Johns building.

Snags to be Adjusted in Ferry Service

Montserrat authorities have promised to look into complaints form travelers on the ferry service.

The further complaints were brought to the fore after renown minister and social commentator Hezekiah Farrel identified frustrations which some travelers faced when traveling to and from Antigua.

Farrell, who visited the island on a fact-finding mission said some early morning travelers from Antigua have problems clearing immigration. All morning travelers are required to clear immigration the night before traveling. According to Farrell people arriving on late night flight into Antigua would have difficulty doing that. He said some arrangements should be made that could eliminate this problem. Farrell also said that the agent at the port should be allowed to collect departure tax light the airline agents at the airport. The present system, he says is cumbersome and engender unnecessary delays.

Immigration officials in Antigua indicated that they do all in their power facilitate the convenience of travelers to Montserrat. They said notice of possible travelers in the morning should be communicated for arrangements to be made accommodate them.

For safety all persons wishing to travel on the morning service of the ferry from Antigua are asked to check with officials the day before traveling. The ferry sails at 6:15 am. Passengers are asked to check at 5:45 am.

Persons wishing to travel on the evening service from Montserrat are asked to make advance arrangements with MAS as only a limited number of persons will be accommodated.

Budget Soon to be Debated

The legislative council is to soon hear the Government’s estimates and expenditure for the year. If will be Mr. Brandt’s first budget presentation since he took up office last year.

Although tight lipped about the details of the budget, information released over government own radio station ZJB said issues such as housing, jobs, infrastructure, medical and educational services along small business development are expected to be in the speech. The report also said CM Brandt is considering certain concessions.

Last years Budget totaled $112 million. No date has been announce for the budget presentation, however, according to the law of the colony of Montserrat the budget has to be presented on or before the end of April.

Plan to Rescue Cattle in Long Ground

It has been reported from helicopter over-flights of the Long Ground area that in the region of 60 to 70 cattle are still ranging the area.
The Ministry of Agriculture, local farmers, the MVO and police officials are meeting in an effort to plan an
operation to rescue the cattle from the area whilst the current low activity period is taking place at the volcano.
The plan would call for the cattle to be driven down to the coastline and then drive them up the beach to the Pelican Ghaut area. The pyroclastic flows in the Trants area are still hot and therefore an overland route is not possible.
Meantime plans are still being developed with Dominica to ship a substantial number of live head of cattle to that Windward Island.

Another Insurance Company Comes to Montserrat

NAGICO Insurance, which will work through Jim Van Hecke and Associates, a St. Martin based insurance company, this week announced intentions to offer premiums on homes, cars, business and medical. The remaining residents in the volcano struck island will not be covered from volcano damage.

"The types of insurance we are going to be offering the people of Montserrat will include homes, business, car and medical. These will be offered at the same rates as those in St. Martin, which is a non-volcanic island. In addition to that, they will also be offered the same discount factors as those in St. Martin. They will be allowed 10% discount for having hurricane shutters, 10% discount for concrete roofs, 10% discount if they have no claims precious to 1995, they will be allowed a 10% discount if they take a 2% deductible," Jim Van Hecke, manager of Jim Van Hecke and Associates based in St. Martin.

Van Hecke says clients could get up to 60% discount on property rates with his company. The news comes as a welcome relief to residents of Montserrat who have been having difficulty insuring their properties.

The Housing Assistance Mortgage Scheme

One of the major problems facing the housing problems in Montserrat is the lack of funds to assist those people who have the need and desire to building their own home in the north of the island.

Mr. Brandt was asked at his press conference last week by the Reporter whether the problem where the housing assistance mortgage scheme was back to where it started.

The full text of Mr. Brandt’s response to this question follows:

"We are not back to square one. What happened, and I explained before, was that the Bank of Montserrat was going to be the bank through which this mortgage scheme would be accessed. And the Bank of Montserrat had more than $60 million. The British Government wanted them to bear 35 percent of the risk.

"As you know, it is governed by the Central Bank, and the Central Bank has said that since the moneys are deposits, people can take out their money any time, and if you lend it over a period of 20 years it may cause some problems. So they suggested instead that the Bank of Montserrat manages it — the British Government provides the money and the Bank of Montserrat manages it as it would manage any money from CCB under the same terms.

"When we went back to the Treasury in England, they say that they would want an institution to bear some of the risk as they believe that would make them vigilant in managing the portfolio They are to go and see if any banks in Antigua would lend money for this purpose. They now have to go through that procedure, and if they do not get any bank in Antigua to lend that money, they would give the money, but the Treasury said you had to go through that procedure.

"I have a problem with any bank but the Bank of Montserrat supplying the money, under whatever terms.

Firstly, the people and Government of Montserrat own 66 percent of the shares in the Bank of Montserrat.

"All the assets and liabilities of the Bank of Montserrat are guaranteed by the British Government. So if anything should happen to the Bank of Montserrat, and nothing will happen because it is very strong, they have the backing of the British Government and people cannot lose their money. But the impression it would give to the public is that the Bank of Montserrat wouldn’t have the money to lend, and they will do it with suspicion, even though it is a strong bank. For that reason I am advocating that that should come through the Bank of Montserrat.

"As a step towards that direction there is going to be a meeting held next Tuesday in St. Kitts between the Central Bank, the Bank of Montserrat here, and representatives of the Aid Office and a representative from my department, to hold a discussions to see how we can go forward. I believe that that would strengthen the bank, it would assist other people, and it is the right thing to do."

Areas 1 & 2 Survey

The survey of areas 1 and 2 on the Montserrat risk map by Search & Rescue teams continued over the weekend.
On completion, every household and business place in areas 1 to 4 on the map (the areas still being occupied) will have been visited to check occupancy. Checks of Areas 3 and 4 have already been completed.
The reason for the survey is so that authorities will have the information as to occupancy levels in the unlikely event that an off island evacuation is called.

High Court Opens This Week

Eleven cases including murder, rape and attempted rape, arson, handling stolen goods, theft, burglary, damaging property, forgery and causing grievous bodily harm. Justice Adrian Saunders will be the presiding judge.

The hearing will be carried out at Bill James residence in Olveston. Only two cases were heard due to the relocation of key witnesses in the cases.

According to information from the court, every effort will be made to find and bring back witnesses. Two witness were brought back to give evidence in cases this week.

Rotary District Governor Hails Commitment of Island's Club

Rotary International District Gov. Henry A.M. Guda of Suriname came to Montserrat Monday to acquaint himself with conditions on the island, meet members of the Rotary Club of Montserrat, and share lunch with them at the pavilion at Woodlands Beach.

Gov. Guda heads Rotary International District 7030, which comprises islands from Antigua/Barbuda and St. Kitts/.Nevis in the north to as far south as Trinidad and Tobago. It also embraces Suriname and French Guyana.

It was Gov. Guda’s first visit to Montserrat. He came with misgivings, he told Rotarians, because he had the impression that Montserrat had been leveled, like the Rotterdam in which he studied after World War II. "It’s the news that’s coming through," he said, to explain his misconception.

Rotary luncheon at Woodlands Beach

"When I learned that you were meeting on the beach," he said, "having lunches in brown bags, carrying on regardless, I was so impressed with that I said, I don’t know when but I will find a way to come over here and meet you all. I did not know you all personally and I must tell you, especially after what I’ve seen, I am very impressed. Now I don’t think you’ll be able to do very much at this time but the simple fact that you carried on and kept the club alive is impressive."

The Rotary Club of Montserrat traditionally met every Wednesday at the Vue Pointe Hotel. Before escalating activity at the volcano forced the hotel to close, there were 23 active Montserrat Rotarians in the club. Today there are 10 still on island. Instead of attending a fund-raising luncheon every week the remaining members meet each Wednesday at Woodlands Beach, providing their own food but still discussing the ways in which the Rotary Club of Montserrat can still help meet the island’s needs.

Gov. Guda advised the Rotarians to recognize the limitations of the club’s current size but declared, "There is nothing you cannot achieve if you really put yourself to it. There is nothing."

Alluding to the difficulty posed by aid projects for the club, he said, "I realize that after all you went through, after all that happened to you, that you’re not in overdrive. I don’t whether you’re in first gear, second gear, which gear, but I’m sure you’re not in overdrive. We have to get you back at least in third or fourth gear.

He used his memories of Rotterdam from 1953 to 1958 to discourage despair.

"I don’t know if you ever saw a picture of Rotterdam after the Second World War," he said. "There was nothing left standing except half a church tower. Everything was devastated. The Allies had bombed it flat; because it was a big harbor they bombed it flat.

"Because I studied in Rotterdam it changed me forever. I have seen political parties there —. I’m talking about Holland now, with perhaps 10, 12 parties. But the communists, the rightists, the leftists, whoever, whenever the interest of Rotterdam was at stake, everybody joined forces. I have learned that political differences will always remain, but when the interest of the people is at stake, there is only one decision people take, and that one is in the interest of all."

"Rebuild the economic base to carry on," he advised, adding that he thought Montserrat should use tourism "Don’t make the mistake of going to mass tourism," he said, ‘because you don’t have the infrastructure. Find yourselves a niche market, cultivate it and grow from there. I’ve traveled all over. People are looking for peace and quiet and a little friendliness."

He cited the example of Aruba, where, he said, "I’ve seen it come from nothing. You go to Aruba now. You know what they’re coming for? Peace and quiet. Some people are return visitors for over 20 years, because they can walk abound there. They don’t feel threatened. They walk around. They love it. I think Aruba’s overpriced, it’s overbuilt, but still they keep coming."

Of his visit to Montserrat, he said, "I am happy I saw it, and I’m happy at least this part of the island is continuing to live."

In closing he spoke of Rotary International’s message for 1998, ‘Show Rotary Cares’. "I’m sure you have not been in a position to do as much as you have wanted to do," he said, "but the mere fact that you continued to keep the lamp burning impressed us all and it is for that matter that I greet you. Please carry on."

Before his meeting with the club, Gov. Guda and George Piper, his district representative, were escorted by Julian Romeo, president of the Rotary Club of Montserrat, on an official visit to the Honorable Adelina Tuitt, Minister of Health, Education and Community Services, and acting chief minister in the absence of the Honorable David S. Brandt.

They discussed with Mrs. Tuitt plans for a relocated public library, a Montserrat Cultural Center, expanded recreational facilities for children and possible areas of volunteer professional medical from Rotarians abroad.

President Romeo also provided a brief tour of the island for Gov. Guda, during which he had distant views of the volcano and first-hand looks at the new houses built at Davy Hill and those nearing completion at Lookout.

ECCB Staff Association Aids Montserrat Fire Victims

The East Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Staff Association has again shown its support to the people of our volcano ravaged island.

In an brief handing-over ceremony resident representative of the ECCB, Miss Alfreda Meade in making the presentation of cookware and other gifts, said: "I’m very pleased on behalf of the Staff Association of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank to be associated with this project. Every year the Staff Association presents to member territories certain funds to be able to be used for projects in each of the member territories. The Staff Association would like to be part of what’s going on in the member territories.

This year we have decided to put those funds towards the purchasing of kitchen ware for displaced persons of the volcanic crisis."

She noted that the Christian Council has been acting as a medium for assisting with some personal needs of needy persons and hoped that the persons who are receiving these utensils would appreciate the efforts that have been put in by members of the Staff Association.

The donation was being made to the Christian Council, who had received similar donations in the past for similar purposes. This prompted Father Victor Peters, president of the Christian Council, while expressing his pleasure and thanking the ECCB staff members, to say: "I would like to say something at this time_We have been receiving and accepting gifts from our friends at home and abroad. I do think the time has come for us to do something on our own here in Montserrat in order to raise funds. I would like to ask Montserratians that whatever we plan to do we do hope that you will support us. We are now looking at some fund-raising activities and we do solicit your support. I have the confidence that you will support us." Father Peters said that in the past they have been very good to the people in Montserrat, "as they respond to the crisis and we do hope that we will be able to be even better as time goes by.

In closing his brief remarks he said: "Thank God things are shaping up and we just continue to give God praise and thanks, and we do hope that in the future things will be brighter and Montserrat will get bright and get back to being Montserrat."

Mr. Claude Browne, coordinator for the Christian Council in Montserrat, acted as chairman at the brief ceremony. He explained that during the volcanic crisis the Montserrat Christian Council has embarked upon a program of development and emergency support and that the present donation would go to the Manjack fire victims.

"Among the many things we are doing is trying to support people who have been displaced in areas that we have identified that they have really suffered," he said, mentioning also that they have started an agricultural project and have given some assistance in terms of building.

He explained also that their funding sources have been traditionally the Caribbean Conference of Churches, and of more recent time the Christian Aid out of London, but noted: "We have also been seeking funds a lot of other places, and the ECCB has heeded our call as they are trying to assist in the volcanic situation as well."

Caricom Awaits Cuba's Bid to Become Member

HAVANA, (Reuters) - A Caribbean leader said on Tuesday the Caribbean Community recognized Cuba as a Caribbean nation and was waiting for Havana to apply for full membership in the regional grouping.

"At the moment, Caricom has recognized Cuba as a Caribbean country with a potential for membership of Caricom," Denzil Douglas, the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, told a news conference at the end of a week-long visit to Cuba.

Communist-ruled Cuba, which has sought to boost ties with its Caribbean neighbors since the collapse of the Soviet bloc, currently attends Caricom meetings as an observer.

Douglas, who was accompanied by Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina, said any Cuban application for full membership of Caricom would need to be analyzed by the heads of government of the 15-nation grouping, who would set up a special committee to study the request.

"There is no doubt in my mind that my Caribbean colleagues are awaiting an application from Cuba," he added.

He also said Caribbean leaders would view "with interest" any future application by Cuba to join the ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific) group of states.

Cuba has so far expressed interest in participating as an observer and as part of the Caribbean in upcoming negotiations between the ACP and the European Union on a trade and cooperation agreement to succeed the existing Lome Convention.

Douglas was asked whether concepts of democracy, good governance and respect for human rights, which are specifically mentioned in the EU-ACP relationship, might prove an obstacle to Cuba’s future integration into the

ACP. "Negotiations on these issues will have to continue in the future," he said.

Disagreements over these issues have already stalled talks between Havana and the EU on a trade and cooperation agreement.

Robaina, responding to the same question, said such issues did not have to constitute an obstacle, given "a willingness to cooperate ... and a will to integrate."

Douglas, who was ending his first visit to Cuba, signed three bilateral cooperation agreements with Cuban President Fidel Castro on Monday, covering economic cooperation, sports and exemptions from the need for visas. He said he had been "deeply impressed" by Castro.

Reaffirming a common Caribbean position, Douglas expressed opposition to the long-standing U.S. economic embargo on Cuba.

"Any action which continues to impose hardships upon the people of this country ... is an action which needs to come to an end for the sake of humanity," he said.

St. Kitts Man Charged With Double Murder

St Kitts, CANA - St Kitts and Nevis police have charged a man with killing two Kittitians during a shooting incident in a crowd after the Sandy Point High School sports day on Friday last week. Charged is 18-year-old, Bruce Rogers, for killing Paul Duncan, 32, and Seymour Thompson, 17, both of Sandy Point. Police say gunshots were fired into the crowd in an apparent gang-related attack.

St. Lucia Fund to Fight Poverty

St Lucia, CANA - St Lucia’s government has approved the creation of a fund for development projects to fight a chronic problem of poverty.

Government will set aside one million dollars (US369,003) and expects support from the World Bank and European Union. "Money from the fund will be used to finance small-scale projects in selected areas to improve living conditions, and promote community participation in development projects,"Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony said last month.

St. Lucia Not a Crime Sanctuary

St Lucia, CANA - St Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony yesterday warned that government will not allow the country to be used as a sanctuary for drug pushers or money launderers. Speaking on the Criminal Code Amendment Bill which will deny bail for gun-related offences, Dr.

Anthony said that over the last few weeks government has had to authorise the removal of persons from the state. Two such individuals were a well-known restaurant proprietor from Martinique, and a Briton.

W. Indies Beat England in 2^nd One-Day

Following their nail-biting victory on Wednesday, the West Indies selectors announced three changes on Thursday to their squad for the third and fourth Cable & Wireless One-day cricket internationals against England Saturday and Sunday at Arnos Vale in St Vincent.

Fast bowler Nixon Mclean, batsman Keith Arthurton, and seam-bowling allrounder Carl Tuckett, are in at the expense Courtney Walsh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Franklyn Rose. Wicket-keeper/batsman Ridley Jacobs, who replaced the injured Junior Murray in the second match Wednesday, keeps his spot.

Walsh, 35, has decided to withdraw from the remainder of the series to prepare for his testimonial year with the English county Gloucestershire.

And in deciding on a more specialist One-day team, the out-of-form Chanderpaul, who missed Wednesday’s game because of illness, is replaced by Arthurton, returning for the first time since the 1996 World Cup.

Hard-hitting McLean, who played in three tests, has been brought back into the squad to challenge for a fast bowling spot.

The full Squad is Brian Lara (captain), Carl Hooper, Clayton Lambert, Philo Wallace, Stuart Williams, Keith Arthurton, Phil Simmons, Carl Tuckett, Ridley Jacobs, Rawl Lewis, Nixon McLean, Curtly Ambrose, Mervyn Dillon.

In a tension- filled second Cable & Wireless one-day cricket international at Kensington Oval on Wednesday,. chasing England’s challenging victory target of 267, West Indies got home with one ball to spare, reaching 267 for nine off 49.5 overs to square the five-match series 1-1.

Wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs hit the winning run and was unbeaten on 28, butWest Indies owed their victory to responsible fourth-wicket stand of 132 in 28.4 overs between Stuart Williams (68) and Carl Hooper (66).

Sent in to bat, England, after a slow start, were dismissed for 266 off the final ball of their 50 overs with opener Nick Knight making a fine 90 off 110 balls with seven fours and a six.

It was West Indies’ first win over England in their last four games and only their fifth in 16 one-day internationals since 1991.

DFID And the Economy

by the Independent Thinker

We can all agree that our economy needs a shot in the arm. So which hospital can we go to to get a vitamin shot for the economy? The answer would seem to be the Department for International Development, and it is not an unreasonable answer. After all it is DFID who is providing the National Development Foundation with funds to refinance the business sector. The only question that now remains is when, oh when, will the DFID doctor be in the house?

Since February, the business sector on Montserrat has been told that the Business Rehabilitation Project has been approved and since then businesspersons have been applying for loans. Well, it is sad to say that they are still a-waiting and a-wanting.

Examine what the effect of refinancing the business sector will be. The economic professors call it the "multiplier effect." Suppose10 businessmen were to build new business places to move their businesses into; just what will be the impact on the economy of Montserrat?

Let us begin with the effect on the construction sector. Assume each building needs 10 men to construct each one. That will be some 100 jobs created. Every building material supplier will be pressed into service just trying to meet the needs of the contractors building the buildings. These suppliers may have to hire new employees. Suppose they each hired two employees and suppose there are three building material suppliers. New jobs created now reaches 106.

When these buildings are completed and businesspersons are now in adequate business space, new employees will need to be hired to adequately staff these businesses. Suppose each business hires one person. We are up to 116 jobs.

Let us look at the impact on the providers of utilities. A minimum of 10 new phones will have to be installed. Ten new water installations and 10 new electricity installations. If each business paid a minimum of $300 per month to the electricity company, then Monlec earns a further $36,000 per annum. The impact on the water and phone companies would be similar give or take a couple of thousands of dollars. What of the houses that these businesses once occupied? The utility companies would still earn an income as these buildings will be returned to homemakers.

Lets now look at income generated. There are now 116 persons who were either not resident or were unemployed before the construction began. If each earned a minimum of $200 per week for a three-month period, each should have spending money of say $125 a week. Then retailers could expect an increase in sales of almost $175,000 over the three-month period.

We have not even yet looked at the impact on the revenue collections of the government by way of income taxes and import duties and ferry rides.

When you add the 50 houses in Lookout being occupied in the not too distant future, the income of the utilities companies would be further increased. It would be reasonable to assume that they too will have to seek additional workers to keep up with the workload.

Where would these workers come from? From Antigua and London, of course. To satisfy their basic needs would mean more income for retailers and the utility providers. It would mean more cars on the road and so more income for gas station owners and car repairmen. It would mean more children in school. And of course more income taxes for government.

But is this really what DFID want for Montserrat? Is this really what the political directorate wants for Montserrat? Is this what Montserratians want for Montserrat? If the answer everytime is yes, then why, oh why, is the financing of the business sector being put on hold again and again? After all we were made to understand that this business project has been two years in the making. How much longer, Dear God, must we wait?

Heaven's Grocery Store

I was walking down life’s highway a long time ago. One day I saw a sign that read, "HEAVEN’S GROCERY STORE As I got a little closer the door came open wide, and when I came to myself I was standing inside. I saw a host of ANGELS. They were standing everywhere. One handed me a basket and said, "My Child shop with care."

Everything a Christian needed was in that grocery store. And all you couldn’t carry, you could come back the next day for more.

First, I got some PATIENCE. LOVE was in the same row.

Further down was UNDERSTANDING: you need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of WISDOM, a bag or two of FAITH. I just couldn’t miss the HOLY GHOST, for it was all over the place.

I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE to help me run this race. By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed some GRACE.

I didn’t forget SALVATION, for SALVATION was free, so I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me.

Then I started up to the counter to pay my grocery bill, for I thought I had everything to do the MASTER’S will.

As I went up the aisle, I saw PRAYER: and I just had to put that in, for I knew when I stepped outside, I would run into sin.

PEACE AND JOY were plentiful; they were last on the shelf.

SONG and PRAISE were hanging near, so I just helped myself.

Then I said to the angel, "Now, how much do I owe?" He smiled and said, "Just take them everywhere you go."

Again, I smiled and said, "How much do I really owe?" He smiled again and said, "MY CHILD, JESUS PAID YOUR BILL A LONG, LONG TIME AGO."

ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER YOU SHALL ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING, YOU SHALL RECEIVE."

(MATTHEW 21:22)

Dump Those Abandoned Cars in the Sea?

It's Not That Simple

Over the past two weeks a discussion ensued on the Electronic Evergreen which arose out of concerns over the derelict cars and other property left on the side of the road or on private property, which can be seen from the main roads as one drives through the buffer zone and the ‘relatively safe zone’.

Along with the discussions some suggestions were made as to what can or should be done with these vehicles.

Commissioner of Police Christopher Burgess has been on radio discussing steps the police intend to take to rid the island of these eyesores.

He told The Reporter on Thursday: "What we are trying to do is identify an area where we can take the cars, pending a decision whether they should be crushed or put on an artificial reef. This can be described as a holding area."

He commented on the position taken by some that artificial reefs made of cars are just as ugly. The Commissioner admitted there was no ready solution: "Whatever you do with these cars is conjecture of one sort or another; the ideal thing is for someone to start up a scrap business and tender for all of these abandoned vehicles and recycle the bits and pieces of them."

He said that they are in the process of making an index of all the cars and putting notices of those known to be abandoned, warning the owners that they are going to get moved.

The main suggestions of several persons for getting rid of the vehicles is to drop them into the sea to make artificial reefs, something that has been done in the past here in Montserrat.

This prompted strong objection from some folks who are concerned about the Montserrat environment and who in particular are quite concerned about preserving the environment around our seashores.

One early comment went like this: " Abandoned cars are only one of the many discarded items piling up at our road sites. To dump them into the sea looks like a nice way to get rid of them. They might even attract fish! How nice!"

The gentleman went on to state: "Abandoned cars attract wild life on land too. So, why do we not let them stay where they are and enjoy the animals and plants that live in them? The answer is, they are still ugly_

car wrecks are as ugly under water as they are on land. The idea of the preservation of natural beauty and wild life should be to protect the natural environment such that life can thrive in its natural setting. By calling an underwater dump site euphemistically an artificial reef, we feel as if we had done a great thing for our threatened underwater world. Thus, we can continue to destroy the natural reefs full speed."

The suggested use of abandoned cars to make artificial reefs met strong opposing arguments.

Mr Wolf Krebs, who before the volcano ran a dive shop and school, responded with his opinion of some examples of how natural reefs are treated in Montserrat:

1. Shoal Ground, a vast expanse of reef off and south of Bransby Point was used for many years as an anchoring ground for the ships waiting to land in Port Plymouth. Several square kilometers of the most productive reef have been destroyed. The Fishery Officer and others have pleaded in vain with the authorities to declare this area a no-anchoring ground.

2. Off the pier in Old Town is a small patch reef. When this pier was used more heavily in the beginning of the volcano crisis, it too turned into an anchoring ground for freighters.

3. When the German Cruise Ship Aida paid one of her visits to Montserrat, she dropped her huge anchors into one of our best known dive sites, the "Horn," which by some divers is also known as "the Pinnacle." A large, triangular area of devastation resulted on the southwest quadrant of this site. The damage done there within a few hours destroyed more underwater life than can be attracted by all car wrecks sitting on Montserrat’s roads.

4. Little Bay, once one of our most pristine dive sites and a major breeding ground for fish, was selected as a site for our new emergency port. The new jetty was placed into an irreplaceable shallow reef.

5. The reefs around Carrs Bay may be the next victims if the planned port is constructed.

Mr Krebs agrees that "Something should have been done a long time ago."

Scrutinizing observers note: "The cars, however visible they are, are only a small part of the problem. We are drowning in garbage. The Little Bay dump is in full bloom. The toxic fumes from the daily burning of refuse in Little Bay is not only most disgusting, it also is a very real health risk to the people who live in this neighborhood and to those who have to use the road to travel from or to the port. However, nobody seems to bother. Instead, we are worried hysterically about the ‘hypothetical’ dangers of volcanic ash.’

But Mr. Krebs, who now assists at the Ministry of Agriculture in the professional veterinary surgery, which he once practised , says: "Whatever the solution of these problems may be, I wish that the idea to use the shallows around Montserrat as dump sites for cars and other human waste would not be entertained any longer. I still hope that the day might come when our authorities will understand that there is no sustainable development if the environment is treated in the way as it is treated right now in Montserrat."

Other people have joined in the discussion, mostly opposing the construction of artificial reefs. One gentleman contributed the following information, saying that artificial reefs are no longer favoured for fishery enhancement in coral reef areas, to the extent that the U.S. government will no longer support research on them.

He gave these three reasons, the last being the most important:

1. Unless very expensively constructed, they are usually non-permanent in the face of corrosion and storms; creating junkyards and distributing debris over a wide area.

2. It is likely that they primarily act as FADs (Fish Attraction Devices) but, rather than bringing together otherwise inaccessible fish in the pelagic domain, may bring fishes from other reefs, to be caught.

3. (And most important) If one calculates the area of reef that will yield fish to SUSTAINABLY support one family, one reaches a figure of several hectares. To build artificial reefs on that scale would be extremely costly: much better to look after the natural reefs.

An example is given of Jamaica where the current yield on the over-fished north coast of Jamaica is about 4 tonnes per square kilometre of shelf per year.

Dr. Deborah M. Brosnan, who did some research on reefs in Montserrat since the start of the volcanic crisis, questions: "Why do we even need Artificial Reefs? They are not a luxury; they are a last ditch stand to maintain a vital ecosystem. 10 percent of the worlds coral reefs have been lost for good."

She proposes the following thoughts: "We’re concerned about the decline in fish and reefs, and we want to establish an artificial reef to provide additional habitat." This establishes a framework for evaluating what type of reef to establish, and for evaluating success. (You may use old cars or a ship, but that decision is yet to be made). By contrast the flip side is, We have old abandoned cars on our island, and we’d like to get rid of them and use them to create an artificial reef." This puts the focus on beautifying the land, and not on marine conservation (the effects on marine life are seen as an added bonus for the sea). Under this scenario, artificial reefs can end up a disaster."

The suggestions and arguments vary for one or the other idea, so here are a few statements:

One person says: "It never made sense to me that a car with so many parts coated in oil should be seen as a good thing to put in our waters. I guess human beings have a philosophy of ‘out of sight; out of mind,’ but as pointed out the price of these hidden solutions is sometimes too high!"
"Surely the problem can be resolved by selling those old metal wrecks as scrap. That will remove the unsightly relics and perhaps bring in a few dollars."

"Given the fact that we do have certain rodents and reptiles on the island, I do not consider the enhancement of their habitats at the existing locations to be a desirable solution."

Chris Mason,who himself ran a dive school business in Montserrat, offered the following contribution to the discussion, describing Pinnacle, which Krebs says is best known as "The Horn":

"Pinnacle is an off-shore mound, rising from 130 feet to 60 feet deep in the centre of the site. It is probably a couple of acres in size. On the west side of the site it drops off quite steeply into the depths of the Caribbean Sea, and it is here that the most impressive coral can be found. There are wonderful soft corals shaped like chimneys that are blue, yellow, green, very vivid colours. Large brain corals as big as cars, often hollow inside with snapper, grouper, and lobster finding homes in concealed chambers.
"I have seen fish in this area that I have not seen anywhere else around Montserrat. As it is about half a mile offshore and 70 feet deep in most places, it is safe from most of the spear fishermen and from the runoff that has destroyed so many of our closer sites. I have taken hardened diving instructors from renowned diving locations to this site, and they were visibly moved by the superb condition of the corals. This is rare in the Caribbean."

"I would just like to come to the defense of artificial reefs and clarify that in fact, they can be a great thing - IF DONE PROPERLY!"
"There are many artificial reefs around the world and they have created fantastic marine environments where originally there were none or where they had previously been destroyed."

One last person, who himself had been involved in the creation of artificial reefs, refers to Anguilla, where he said the old vehicles, "towed out to Carefully researched Sites and sunk.. That successful Project
became known as "Anguilla’s Artificial Reefs & Dive Sites Project". Anguilla is NOW the undisputed Wreck Diving Capital of the Caribbean!"
The above not only referred to vehicles on land but ships and boats that were sunk on the shores and in shallow waters around Anguilla. He added: "On top of cleaning up the harbors and lands, we (Anguilla) also got a couple Million Dollars of Free Advertising and Positive Public Relations out of that project."

JUS’ WONDERIN

Jus wonderin if the dingy behind the MV Shamrock is really the new Police Launch.

Jus wonderin if the new Police Launch is not another example of a "waste of money."

Jus wonderin how the new Police Launch will tow vessels in trouble.

Jus wonderin what is going to happen when a fisherman has a breakdown at sea. Are we going to rescue the fisherman and set his boat free?

Jus wonderin if sufficient raincoats have come with the Shamrock 2.

Jus wonderin whether the hot mix plant needs an on-site electrician, a permanent hydrologist or redesignation as the wet mix plant.

Jus wonderin whether those pleasant surprises the Chief Minister promises us in the new budget will be as pleasant for the average Montserratian as they will be for the CM and his fellow Ministers.

Jus wonderin whether the upcoming volcano meeting in the UK is being held there so that the chief scientific adviser won’t have to take as long before declaring that the volcano is far more dangerous than the conferees conclude.

Jus wonderin if all is well in all camps in this ‘ravished’ half-fallen paradise.

Jus wonderin how some off-island injuns want to be chief of tings widout any apprenticeship.

Jus wonderin if e too early fu wonda how dey goin compensate dem wid de powa nex time.

Jus wonderin where the officers will hide from ash and rain on the new patrol boat.

Jus wonderin if the manager is really offended meeting when certain persons’ names come up to go to to learn sea business affairs.

 THE CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL (CXC), the regional examining body, invites applications for the post of ASSISTANT REGISTRAR, SYLLABUS DEVELOPMENT, located at the Council’s Western Zone Office in Jamaica.

1. a good first degree from a recognised University;
2. a post-graduate degree in Education;
3. at least three Years’ experience teaching and assessing students, preferably at the levels of Forms 4 to 6 or Grades 10 and 13
4. at least three years’ experience at a senior level in Administration/Management in schools.

• co-ordinating activities related to the development of syllabuses for examinations offered by the Council;
• servicing the meetings of subject panels and preparing relevant reports for submission to the various Committees of the Council.

• Salary in the scale (under review) : J$763,680 x 28,668 - 993,024// 1,107,696 per annum.

• Travel : J$118,111 per annum
• Entertainment : J$18,000 per annum
• Housing : 20% of basic salary

The Council also offers pension, group life and health insurance schemes. Relocation assistance is provided where necessary.

Applications, accompanied by a curriculum vitae, documentary evidence of qualifications, and the names, addresses and telephone/fax numbers of three (3) referees should be sent no later than April 24, 1998 to: The Registrar, Caribbean Examinations Council, The Garrison, St Michael, Barbados, West Indies. (Attention: Personnel Division). Fax (246) 429-5421. Applicants resident in Jamaica should send applications to the Officer-in-Charge, Caribbean Examinations Council, Western Zone Office, Caenwood Centre, 37 Arnold Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica, West Indies, Fax: (876) 967-4972 for onward transmission to Barbados.

PRIMARY CARE,

MINISTRY OF HEALTH, MONTSERRAT

• A medical practitioner who can be registered in Montserrat.

• A higher qualification in a relevant medical specialty (Note: under current law a public health diploma is required for the Chief Medical Officer’s post - the Ministry is in the process of reviewing the requirement).

• Experience and demonstrable skills in health strategy and health care management.

• Understanding of ethical aspects of health and professional practice.

• Knowledge of and enthusiasm for developing a primary health care led service.

• The ability to communicate about health care matters to the public and the Government.

• Clinical skills in primary care or other speculums needed for health care on Montserrat.

Application is by letter, with Curriculum Vitae, and the names of three referees (one from current or last employer); should be addressed to:

NOTICE

• Demonstrable skills and experience in management, preferably in health care or a related sector.
• The ability to lead and motivate a team of health professionals to secure effective and efficient delivery of services
• Knowledge of and experience in facilities management and public sector finance.

 Montserrat Building Society

Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted.

 Red Cross Director Vacancy

    Applications stating qualifications and experience should be addressed to the Director, Montserrat Branch British Red Cross, P.O. Box 61, Montserrat to reach no later than April 6, 1998.

OECS ECERP Programme Officer

ORGANISATION OF EASTEARN CARIBBEAN STATES (OECS)

EDUCATION REFORM UNIT

• The programme Officer will be responsible for the efficient management of ECERP and for its achievements within budgetary and quality targets. The Officer will play a pivotal role in coording activities being undertaken at the national and sub-regional level, implemented under ECERP invitives.
• More specifically the Officer will be expected, inter, to: collaborate with the CEA on the overall management and monitoring of the project and in the preparation of quarterly and annual reports, Work Plans and Budgets.
• Supervise the sub-regional arrangements for the logistics for all ECERP initiatives.
• Serve as Secretary to the ECERP Project Management Committee (PMC) and organise, service and coordination its meeting.
• Identify and recommended policies and actions for the development of the Education systems in the OECS.

• First degree in Education the Social Services, or Management; Post graduate qualifications or training Educational Planning and/or Managment and Project Planning and Management.
• A miniunm of three years related successful experience in a senior management position preferably in the Caribbean region.
• Direct involment in Financial Management, Project Planning and Project implementation.

• The Officer will be based at the OECS Education Reform Unit (OERU) in Castries St.Lucia.
• The appointment will be on three-year contractual basis renewable subjects to satisfactory execution of duties. There will be an initial probationary period. The rules and regulations of the OESC Secretariat will govern the appointment.

Information on remuneration and related matters can be obtained from the Technical/Administrative Officer at the OERU (Phone 758-452-2082 Fax 758-453-0841)

The successful candidate will be expected to take up position by May 1st, 1998 Candidates must be Caribbean nationals.

Gem Radio Caribbean

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